May 13, 2012 - Gibson Sail

To continue with that day,

We sailed to Gibson right after the sail-past... greeted by Hank's friend Robert and his new lady friend Mary.

Usual time there... walks around Gibson,,, dinner at Black Fish Pub, relaxed aboard, restful sleep.

The next day, I heard the Hank was quite sick. His breakfast from the Water front Restaurant was not up to his stomach's liking. but it all came out in the end. :)

Caroline left the following day on the ferry, as she has to go to work on Monday. Hank stayed over one more night... took Mary and Robert for a sail around Keat's island... great winds... I even got to show off my kite:)

Monday morning came, with Robert taking Hank out for breakfast. Hank and I sailed home with a nice breeze behind our stern... clocked up to 6.8 knots running with the wind.

Resting now... ready to take Hank's friend (Brian from Summerland) out on a few day sail adventure...

Til then... happy sailing.

May 13, 2012 - Sailpast

Our yearly sail-past was something to be seen; unfortunately Hank's camera was missing the SD card,,, so no pictures again.. :(

If you could image... over 60 sailboats and 40 power boats in a single line...some site to be seen.

Winds were perfect for this occasion. However, Hank decided to only put up my main sail, as there were so many boats going in every direction. My summer headsail comes down to the rails, so you can not see past it. Good thing he did because I would hate to collide with another boat.

This was my first sail-past with Hank and Caroline.

Hank spent a lot of time cleaning up my starboard side for this occasion, as this is the side they normally past by the Commodore's boat on the starboard side. He took some time to install the my new windows on the starboard side (port side are not done yet). However, due to the wind direction... we pasted on the port side :(.

Oh well, I still look good on the port side too!

We ended up rafting with Lopeka at the Yacht club. Caroline and Hank had lunch and heard the Commodore's speeches.

another sail-past done!

May 09, 2012 - Wednesday Race

Well this tops it all...!

I had to suffer through an almost gale winds (25 knots) during the Wednesday night race. Our division 5 was last runner up... good thing as our heavy boats would of caused a problem at the start line I'm sure. Plus for Hank's sake... it is a lot less stressful being the last division out... less sailboats to contend with.

Paul was Hank crew mate, working the sheets as best that he could.

Going up wind, they had me leaning to my rails most of the way, with my bow plowing through the waves, breaking over the deck. I held together OK, but I did hear sounds from my "body" that I have not heard before. (Hank checked me out after, and found all is OK). Going down wind was great!, riding the large waves... max. speed was 7.8 knots with only a reefed mainsail and small jib.

Hank made a big mistake by installing my summer 180 genoa (large jib). This sail was way to large for this type of wind, so he could only put out 50% of my sail. This is OK for cruising type sailing, but not for racing... you loose a lot of speed as my sail does not shape very well. He did pull it all the way out during the first leg, but proved to be a big mistake... over powered me to say the least. He had to pull up and furl it back in.

We rounded the mark twice, which means that we were out there a long time... too long for me, let alone Hank. We came in 4th out of 5... but we almost came in third.

Back at the dock, Hank had to give me a good wash down to remove all the salt spray, which was over my entire body.

It was great action, action that I have not seem for a long time, but in my old age now... I could do with a bit of rest; at least for a few weeks or two :).

Resting now... waiting for the Club's sailpast this coming weekend... it is where Hank gets to show me off to the club.

Til then... happy sailing.

(sorry no pictures... just too rough of weather to take pictures.

May 05 2012 - Stag Race to Elliott Bay

 Well another stag race and adventure is behind us. Hank and his friend, Dave Bowman set sail for this year's Spring Stag Race. Long side was my sailing companion "Serenity Now", sailed by her dad Aaron and crew mate Kaya. Six sailboats in total, set sail for Elliott bay. Nice light following winds, was the perfect conditions to try out my kite.... worked great after a lot of deck work on Hank's part. The kite was in the sock, but Hank found out a lot more about kite flying... Only one halyard forward of the fore-stay, not two; you need two lines to fly the kite, not one. Once up and untangled, to worked great!

My kite flying high

Dave Bowman at the helm

Starting dinner

Dave was my skipper and Hank ran the sheets.

We arrived at Elliott bay around 3:00 pm (4 hour sail). Hank and the rest of the stag racer relaxed around the BBQ, had dinner and drinks, while I rested long side my friend "Serenity Now", and a new sailing friend "Wild Winds".

After a cool night's sleep, my crew was readied... we set sail for home... moderate winds under sunny skies.

Tarka, with 160 Summer sails

 

by Gary Wildman

Moored at home again, waiting for this coming weekend... going on the Club's sail-past and then off to Gibson... home of the Beachcomber's TV series back in the 70's.

A sunset moment

April 28, 2012 - General updates

Well... there has been so much going on in the last little while, I don't know where to being.
To save time... point form is the best...

Work done:

1. Hank installed the new traveler system; now the main sheet can be adjusted from behind the helm. Works very well, but now Hank has so many lines laying in the cockpit to content with. (two traveler line, cummingham (downhaul), reefing, main and jennaker halyard lines, and boom-vang), and both jib sheets). total of nine lines. Major trip hazard in a small cockpit!
2. Second glove box installed... looks GREAT! a welcome addition to the cockpit... a place to put some of those new lines.
3. All Carpet has been installed... works and looks good... easy on the feet, no longer standing on fiberglass behind the helm.
4. All three fire extinguishers check and one replaced.
5. Hank purchased all new windows, just a matter of finding the time to install the windows. Presently, I have to live with three sheet plastic windows.
6. Replaced one winch handle... the one Hank threw overboard did not float :)
7. Got my bottom scrummed... up on the club elevator... Hank said that my bottom was looking good, no problems, very little growth, but needs a touch up paint over my rudder.  
8. Three new mirrors installed.

Adventures:
 

Typical evening motor home.

1. First Wednesday night race... solo... light winds, cold and was dark coming home. not a good race for Hank! We arrived home around 9:30PM, to late for the awards at the club.
2. Second Wednesday night race... solo again... heavy, light and no winds... heavy downpour... tripping over lines... good start, then all when everywhere, it became too difficult for Hank to sail solo... Hank was not happy to say the least. During the second lap, we packed it in... withdrew from the race... just too much happening...got home at 9:00pm
3. Trip to Center Bay with Jason... a nice overnight get away
4. I took some "Learn to Race" students out twice... teaching them and Hank too! how to start a race, to win! :) We had Pierre Martin (Mojo's skipper) as a mentor on the last session... great instructor... taught them lots of tricks and how to be a bit more aggressive and demand your sailing rights!
5. Hank took out Jeannettee and her friend Tracey out for an afternoon sail.. nice winds, great sail... ended up at the yacht club for drinks. I stayed overnight... ready for the next day's race.

Jeannette at the helm

1. Popham Race: Hank and Al Rothenbush (another local sailor) medium to light winds... rain of course at times. Great start with Al behind the helm! (11:00 am) We were doing great, until Hank put up the jennaker... everything went wrong! so many more lines to trip and foul, we lost about a half hour, then the winds died. needless to say we seen the fleet sail away; nice view eh! We made it around the mark around around 2:30 pm). We had a great ride back... leaning to the rail over the finish line. (5:00 pm). We came in 7 out of 8 in our division. Had dinner at the club, won a hat and sailing tape... 

Well I think this will catch us up the events...

Watching fleet sail away

Using my new whisker pole for the first and last time (Hank broke it)

 :(

Alan Rothenbush at the helm

Til next entry... happy sailing..

March 17 2012 - more work on Tarka

Hi all,

Just a short update on the happenings with me.

As you can see, Hank made up the attached safety schematic... looks good eh?

In addition, he is busy these days installing the new traveller system... should be a good addition to me; now Hank can adjust my main boom from behind the steering wheel. No more locking the wheel, crawling around trying to make the adjustments.

The carpet should arrive next week.

That is it for now.....

Tarka

March 13 2012 - general update

Just wanted to add an general update in the progress in my preparation for the up and coming sailing season.

Hank has completed:

1. Installation of the cockpit glove box, (to balance the cockpit, he now needs to install another one on the other side).
2. Depth sounder is working very well.
3. Hank measured and dropped off the carpet template at Henderson Marine Carpets... should be completed next week. Nice new gray carpet should be good!
4. Updated my safety schematic plans.
5. Added new boom-vang pulleys and line.
6. Moved the cunningham and reefing system running back to the cockpit (new pulleys and line as well).

Hank still to complete:

1. devise another way for the main traveler system. Existing one does not work very well; too hard to move traveler... new pulleys, jam cleats and line needed.
2. Hank found my window over the nav station has come loose (again)... recommend to replace all windows, if the cost is reasonable.
3. repaint the toe rail and top deck.
4. Give my hull a good waxing with an sander.
5. Replace my jennaker downhaul system.

Humm, seems like Hank has his hands full.




Great sails ahead... Tarka